Thumb, Pacifier, or Nothing at all?

Question

My 2 1/2 year old son was a thumb sucker since birth. Recently, it has become an issue in our house -- mostly because of certain social pressure telling us he's too old. Honestly, I don't really mind, as it does soothe him. I have limited it to nap and bedtime, however, but am not sure about the need to cut it out completely. My son is a very energetic guy, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a stunt artist, hockey player or Navy Seal! I think the thumb sucking helps him wind down. Someone suggested introducing a pacifier, but wouldn't I just have to break that habit as well? Are there health issues associated with this? Is there reason to concern ourself with his tooth develpment at this time? Of course, we won't allow him to suck his thumb forever -- is there any harm in his toddler years? Our firstborn had a similar temperament, and sucked her thumb unitl age 4, until we started schooling her. What are your thoughts / experience / tips and advice?

BTW, we have tried hot sauce and the bitter polish. He's a tough case, and doesn't mind either!

Answer 1

For the sake of his long-term psychological health and well-being, let him suck all he wants to at two and a half years old. Don't worry about teeth until he's seven. The longer and less pestered a child is allowed to suck, the healthier he will be in the long run, based on research. Thumb-sucking is healthier than pacifiers because, with thumb-sucking, he can't use one hand for awhile, which slows him down and creates similar restful conditions to nursing. When he's had the sucking time he needs, he'll stop and return to two-handed play. But, with a pacifier, he can suck without his hand and will not slow down and rest, similar to nursing. That is the sucking that can become a habit. Never use noxious tasting chemicals or make any kind of matter of it. Children who get chemicals put on their thumbs or are made to feel ashamed of the normal human need to suck under the age of 7, have a MUCH higher chance of becoming smokers and excessive over-eaters and neurotic, nervous talkers when they get to be teens, secondary to the oral deprivation and unwitting parental/societal perversion of the natural sucking instinct during early childhood.

Answer 2

It seems that if you talk to a doctor, they say thumb sucking is better than a pacifier. If you talk to a dentist, they say the opposite.

Personally, I think that thumb-sucking isn't a problem as long as it is limited to bed/nap time. It doesn't take most kids a long time to fall asleep, so they won't be sucking long anyway. I have a pacifier baby, and I just let him use it when he needs it to calm himself down.

I think you should follow in the path of your firstborn and let him grow out of it as he reaches school where he might be teased for it. In the end, you are his mother, and you get to decide what is best for him. He's not hurting anyone by sucking his thumb, and there is no set age for him to stop, just like there isn't a set age to crawl.

Answer 3

My sons used nothing. I don't like pacifiers, they never sucked their thumbs, though sometimes their fists. I wouldn't stop them if they did suck their thumbs though. Most children grow out of that at a reasonable age. Many of the ones that don't break the habit until much older have often suffered some sort of trauma. I did breastfeed on demand for at least 18 months with my children so maybe that's why they didn't feel the need to suck on anything else.

Answer 4

Let him suck. My son sucked until he was almost 8. I tried everything under the sun. The only thing that worked was letting time take its course. He no longer needed to suck so he stopped. His teeth are perfectly straight (just a side note). You are ahead of the game, he only sucks during winddown time. Leave him be and see if it resolves on its own. DON'T switch to a binky. First, he may not take the switch. Second, you would have to remember to cart a binky, find a binky or otherwise handle something that is not always attached to him.

I would make him wash his hands before naps and bed or other common sucking times as he will be more prone to illness being a thumbsucker. Get him into the habit of washing his hands A LOT.

Answer 5

everyone is different on this issue I hate both thumb and pacifier, but I have to confess my kids used a "bink-a-bink". Having to choose I prefer the pacifier because you can take it away, but I think He is a little old to introduce it now. I would be worried about tooth development but that is some thing only your doctor or dentist can help you with, but as far as weaning him from his thumb, they make this stuff "thumbs", it is some bitter stuff you paint on there fingers so they don't put them in there mouth, it worked for my daughters nail bitting thing, but I have a friend that tryed it for her daughter sucking on her fingers and it didn't work, she just got used to the taste. My friend then started wrapping her daughters hands at night and nap time and after a week, her daughter was over her finger sucking and hasn't done it since. Hope I was able to help.

Answer 6

Obviously you can't control him if he does it at naptime or bedtime, so don't make an issue out of it. I would NEVER introduce a pacifier at this age. Just encourage him not to suck his thumb during the day. If he's really upset, then let him do it. My nephew sucked his thumb at nap and bedtime until he was four and he's fine now (age 7). Just make sure he washes his hands before nap and bedtime to eliminate germs. Use the "germ" factor to discourage the sucking during the day.

Answer 7

honestly, do not let him suck his thumb. My sister did and her teeth got all messed up because of it, she had to have braces from 5th grade all the way through seior year and the only reason she had to get them off was so that she could get her wisdom teeth pulled. even though her teeth do look good, they aren't as good as they can be. I, however, was on the pacifier and all I had was an overbite with 2.5 years of braces. yes you will eventually have to break him of the pacifier but for now the pacifier is WAY BETTER than the thumb sucking especially in the long run

Answer 8

I sure know what you're going through. My oldest ,which is almost 7yrs old, was sucking her thumb when they did the ultrasound when I was 5 months pregnant with her. She continued to suck her thumb and carry a blanket until she was 5 yrs old, as a matter of fact this time last year she finally got rid of her blanket, and she stopped sucking her thumb at 5yrs also.
People criticized me for letting her suck her thumb for so long, but they didn't understand it was like an addiction. they told me to wrap her thumb with tape and she wanted to suck thumb so bad she was having a fit. I couldn't bare to watch her going through that.
My youngest had the pacifier and it was harder to get rid of that than the thumb. The only concern you should have is his teeth. My oldest lost her 2 front teeth last January and because she continued to suck her thumb (mainly only at night) her front teeth are spread apart . The dentist said she will have to have braces. hope this helps you.

It seems to me you are doing a very good job yourself. He is your child and you know in your heart what is right.

Mandi T

Answer 9

If it doesn't bother you, why should you let someone else bother you. I wouldn't worry about it, but there is always a chance that as he gets older he will keep the habit. If you don't want to see your child sucking his thumb at 17 years old, then I would suggest tackling it now.

Pull his thumb out of his mouth everytime you see it in his mouth. He will get the hint, especially if your with him all day, that's the only way to successfully break him of the habit.

And you can try putting socks on his hands at night with duck-tape on the sock to keep the sock on his hands (that's how my brother-n-law broke my 12 year old niece, that and threatening her within a inch of her life, lol, she's 35 y/o now) ...

As soon as my children started putting their thumbs in their mouths as infants I pulled it out everytime....and both never have had that problem. I've seen grown people still addicted to doing it, because their parents weren't able to break them of the habit......

Answer 10

i would say stop the thumb sucking my sister was a thumb sucker till she was 5 now she is 11 and has some bad teeth because of the pressure of sucking her thumb has pushed her teeth outta whack and now they look kind of bucked...defiantly no pacifier he is way to old...its fully your choice about what you do and as you said your daughter stopped when she started school so your son will probably do the same...good luck and hope you make a good decision...just remember if you do stop him from sucking his thumb he might be a little unsettled for a while...
good luck